While the laws changed the lives of millions of Australians, disability advocates say the act isn't being used enough to fight discrimination.

Social affairs reporter, Sally Sara.

SALLY SARA: On March the 1st1993, the Disability Discrimination Act came into force. It was the product of decades of lobbying and determination.

Maurice Corcoran was one of those who fought hard for the reform. He was frustrated that people with disabilities were denied access to basic services such as public transport.

MAURICE CORCORAN: At one stage in America, black people, Negro people, were not allowed onto public transport. Now that changed but we, people with disabilities, we’re still not able to get onto public transport.

SALLY SARA: Maurice Corcoran became a quadriplegic after a car accident when he was a teenager. His story is one of 20 featured in a series of short films released for the 20th anniversary.

Mr Corcoran led a historic campaign for access to public transport and later won a victory over Virgin Airlines for their restrictions on passengers with disabilities.

MAURICE CORCORAN: History tells us that if you keep people separate and keep them away from everyone else, it just really adds to the attitudinal issues. Diversity adds a richness to the community.

SALLY SARA: Graeme Innes is the Federal Disability Discrimination Commissioner. He says the act has delivered a lot of change, but it's not used enough.

GRAEME INNES: It hasn't been a perfect tool. There are certainly areas where I could pick fault and criticism. But, I think the big issue with it is that any tool is only as good as when you take it out of the tool shed and I think it could have been a lot more effective if more people had lodged complaints. We only get about 1000 complaints a year.

SALLY SARA: Mr Innes won a high profile case earlier this year against rail authorities in New South Wales, after they failed to provide clear audio announcements on trains.

It's estimated that more than 4 million Australians are living with a disability. Their families are also often affected by discrimination and a lack of understanding from others.

Graeme Innes believes that more can be done, so that people can use the act to defend their rights.

GRAEME INNES: I think the law has been more effective for people with physical and sensory disability than it has for psycho-social and intellectual disability.

SALLY SARA: Ed Santow, chief executive officer of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, says some people with disabilities are cautious about taking action.

ED SANTOW: We have had a number of clients who have wanted to bring a case. We’ve thought they had really good prospects, but they were worried about losing their house if they lost the matter. So we think more needs to be done to address some of those barriers.

SALLY SARA: The Governor General will host a reception in Sydney tonight to mark the 20th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act.

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